How Could the “Wrong Direction” Seem So Right?

That’s what my relocation client asked me as we went to visit five drop-dead gorgeous homes in Fairfield Connecticut.

Ping and her family were moving from South Carolina to pricey Fairfield County.  Although the home sizes were not quite as grand here as what they were used to, I could sense a growing excitement about Fairfield as I shared some impressive numbers including our 11 elementary, three middle and two high schools, five beaches and three train stations.

The Chelsea Restaurant, Fairfield CT

A few added highlights like our huge Fourth of July celebration at Penfield Beach, the superb beet salad at The Chelsea and the crazy dog beach at Lake Mohegan didn’t hurt either.   The visual tour was the icing on the cake!

Ping and her husband Danian both worked for the same company in South Carolina.  She took a new job nearby, and he was able to stay with his company and transfer here. Their son and daughter would be going to elementary school.

New home in Fairfield CT

The location of the home they chose in the university area was perfect.  Their kids could walk to school.  And when Danian’s parents came to visit, they could walk there with them. They were situated on a wonderful cul-de-sac and already had an elaborate play set in the back yard.  The house was stunning inside and out.  It was beautifully finished on four levels and came complete with a beautiful in-law suite.  And if all that wasn’t enough, the garage was fully equipped with cabinetry and a high-end custom flooring that looked like you could eat off it!

How can something so wrong seem so right?   Welcome to Fairfield!

Congratulations!

Feel free to comment on this post and reach out to me with your questions and real estate needs. – Linda

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Family Finds New Home in Old Hill

The journey was long for Eric, Roberta and their young son and a new puppy.  Of course, it would be a big lifestyle change from an apartment in Manhattan to a house in the suburbs. First of all, when you could routinely have any nationality of cuisine delivered to your doorstep within 20 minutes, anything less seemed quite inconvenient.  Add to this the perspective of coming from a classic doorman building on the Upper West Side near parks and subways with magnificent pre-war details and 11-foot ceilings, and you were starting with high expectations… as you should!  There was no pressure to move, but it was time for a new experience, a home to spread out in with a yard, an active town, and excellent public schools.

Roberta was drawn to the open space and pastoral scenery in upper Westchester County, New York.  Eric wanted a town with direct train service to Grand Central to make the commute to his Park Avenue office as painless as possible.  The family began their search in Westchester, but after evaluating the homes, amenities and property taxes there decided that Fairfield County Connecticut would be a better fit.

So they set their focus on Westport and rented a summer house there to get to know the town.   Their wish list included a neighborhood with a country feeling and a location on a quiet street, but not too far from the train.  The home needed to be something special- an older house with charm and good bones, or maybe a new construction with timeless style.  There needed to be at least an acre of property with bucolic surroundings.  The ceilings had to be high, and the flow had to be practical as well as aesthetically pleasing.  The architecture had to be true to its form and consistent throughout. High-quality details such as wide plank wood floors and large windows for ample natural light and pretty views were key. A front porch was a plus, and so was a pool.  Last but not least,  the chemistry had to be there.

So we looked.   And we looked.   Over time, we found that the Greens Farms and Old Hill neighborhoods had the location and feeling that Eric and Roberta were looking for.  We saw many, many homes that had many great features. But finding the perfect blend was not easy- as a typical suburban home would not do.   See what Eric, as well as other clients, thought about the process.

Finally, after two an a half years, the winning home was found!  It was gorgeous.  It was custom built and designed by talented architect, John Fifield.  It had the special combination of flow, uniqueness, proportions,  elegance and setting.   It had a romantic wrap around porch and a pool.   It had the chemistry!

And that’s how the story begins.   A family’s quest leads to their new castle in Old Hill.

…a few months later, all is well!